Tag: love

Have you ever had to give up something that you really wanted, or something you wanted to do, in order to do something you felt you were being asked to do? It’s not always easy to give up our idea for what God may be asking us to do. It’s called sacrifice. God always rewards our obedience though! I love that about Him! So here is my story…I hope it helps you make the decision that is right for you in the future.

My hubby and I always take a day or two get-away for Valentine’s Day. It was our plan to marry on Valentine’s Day when we got married but that plan didn’t work out. So because of that, we have always gone away to do something together to celebrate our “almost” wedding day. We consider it our anniversary day, even though we also celebrate our actual date of marriage. So we had planned a three day time away in one of my favorite places with lots of other fun activities included. But then, I found out that my very good friend was having surgery for a knee replacement two days before Valentine’s Day, and I was scheduled to go up and help her. So… hubby and I talked about what we could do, and decided we would make plans to do something together the weekend before. Terry wanted to make the plans for those two days, so that was kind of fun for me since it’s usually me who does that. Friday afternoon, he went and did his food shopping for the weekend, and came back with a beautiful rose and card. That was a part of his table setting the next morning.

Here was his plan: he made me breakfast with mocha included, he would make dinner for me on Saturday evening, but he had planned snacks for during the day. I was to do whatever I wanted that day…read, take pictures, whatever I wanted. I didn’t get to know what was going to happen the following day until it came. We had a lovely candlelit dinner at home with time together and a special movie we watched. He had snacks planned for later in the evening too! Lovely day! He told me we had to get up early the following morning because he had a plan for that also.

My hubby’s table set for me. Still have to work out the deal with bottles but hey…it looks awesome!

Ocean view at Pacific Beach, WA

Little town of Pacific Beach, WA

The interesting layers of nature after the storm.

Seemed almost appropriate somehow for the reason we were out that day.

Always good to attain the climb from worldly things to go for higher ground.

I hate having my picture taken.Silly guy!

So we got up and he fixed me breakfast. While we ate he said he wanted to take me for a ride, and I was to bring my camera and we would go out to Pacific Beach and take photos! Don’t have to ask me twice to do that!!! He would buy me an early dinner after my beach fix, and we would just check some places out as we went. Well…be still my heart! That is MY kind of day. So we went to the beach and I took photos; some fun photo opportunities. We walked around, and got silly photos too! Then I just happened to find a wacky kind of second-hand store that I found my Norwegian Farmers Rose cups for $.50 each!!! I was SO excited. That was just a drive by and I said, “Look! That is open! Let’s go see!” It pays, I tell ya! After all that, we went to get our dinner, and then on the way back home, I bought us a Starbucks. We both came home feeling wonderful after another day of fun together!

What a treat! It doesn’t take much to find sweet times together, or with a friend if that is the case in your life. It also taught me that to give up is to get back. We decided together that we wanted to do this so that I could help a friend. We were blessed by that decision, and God gave us a wonderful couple of days to enjoy the little things in life. Don’t hold back because you think you will lose when God calls you forward to do something different from your plan! Step through the door and let Him bless you with other ways, and the means to find joy in the change. We will still go do our first idea, but just for the day and one night. We get to have another fun day activity, along with our weekend plans we enjoyed so much.

I think the moral of this story is that when we are willing to follow what the Lord calls us to do, and we are willing to do it in obedience to Him, He will take care of giving us back more than what we give. It’s really a heart issue. It had nothing to do with giving something up. It wasn’t hard. I was glad to do it. But it taught me once again that when I am willing to step out and obey, God will take care of everything else; my hubby’s willingness to change the schedule, be a bachelor for a week, the plans to still do some of what we planned when I got back, it all worked out.

Have a willing heart to let go of your plans, and hang on to God’s plans. That is best for all of us anyway!!! I will share more of my insights with my friend in my next post.

How do you think that God sees us? I was reading a book recently and he talked about finger prints making us unique. That got me to thinking…we know we all look different. We also have been told, at least I hope you have, that God knows the number of hairs on our heads. He doesn’t have as big a problem with mine now because I don’t have as many as I used to, but He knows the number. 🙂 What does that tell you about how special we are to Him? Let’s think about that for a minute. What happens when we get into trouble with the law, or we have to get a permit, or work for certain institutions? We have to get finger printed. Why? Because each set of prints is individual to each person. It is uniquely you.

So as I thought more about this, an experience I had many years ago, came to mind. In 1973, I burned my right hand and arm and the part of my hand on my left hand in a fire. I was making a specialty item for Christmas and the lard (we used that in those days) caught fire on the stove. I ended up with 2nd and 3rd degree burns on my hands and arm. I was eventually hospitalized because of infection setting in even though it was covered. I don’t want to make you feel ill, but in order to make my point, I need to share this with you. I lost the skin on my hands and also my arm in places. I could look down between my old skin and the new that was growing and see the intricate work of God. My body had to grow new skin and it was extremely sensitive to touch. I couldn’t touch two fingers together without pain. That is because my nerves were raw and open. When my new skin came back, it was, and still remains, thinner than it was. Even to this day it doesn’t take much to have an issue with a burn that I may get while cooking. If I get a burn, it takes a long time to heal. So here is the interesting part….I still have my finger prints. My finger tips aren’t scarred from it. My skin on the hands are more wrinkled than most people have, but my fingerprints are still uniquely mine.

I find it rather fascinating to see that even though I lost my prints, this creation we call our body, grew new skin and gave me my finger prints back. God did that in His creation of us. My hands and arms became a new creation…and my prints today are used when I have had to apply for jobs and permits. How unique God has made us! The thing is, if He can make us unique enough that an accident can not take away my unique prints, even when they had to become new, and they can still identify me as me, THAT is pretty amazing! He cares for me that much. He cares for you that much. He has made you unique and has unique plans just for you. Not to be compared with others, but made and created just for you.

I love that about God. We each have a plan. We each have unique gifts to offer in service to Him. If you are feeling unworthy or overwhelmed by life in general and trying to find out what God wants of you, don’t look at that mountain and say how big the mountain is, but tell the mountain how big your God is! Let’s leave our finger prints all over the people around us, so that, they know of the love of a God who cares enough to love them individually for who they are, and to help them along the path to who He wants them to become! He tells us to love our neighbors. Let’s leave fingerprints of love on those around us, so they can feel, and thus know, that they are loved by a BIG God!

When you were a child, did you ever get a good book from the library, you took it home, started reading it and it was so good that you had to read into the night? You even faced the discipline of parents to sneak the book into bed, wait until lights were out, turned on the flashlight, under the covers, and read? Your parents wouldn’t see the light through the blankets, right??? Hahaha! Yep! That was me!!! It still is one of my most favorite things!

Well, yesterday, I experienced that feeling all over again! I was privileged to receive an advanced read for the book, “Maybe It’s You” by Candace Calvert, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. As soon as I figured out the technical side of downloading it, I started reading. No housework catch up, a few hours break to hurry up and make something for hubby to eat, and back at it again. All. night. long. Laying in bed this time with no covers over my head, but the room is dark and only lit by my Kindle, but the feeling is the same. I felt just like a kid with a great book that I just had to finish… in the dark… but this time, on a device that would have shocked my parents. I think secretly, they liked that I read so much.

Why did I do the sleep deprived thing? BECAUSE! It was THAT good! She totally had me at “chocolate chip sea salt cookie”. It was a story about second chances, love, truth spoken out of the mouth of a babe, doing what is right even when you know it will cost you, and how grace makes way for forgiveness. Absolutely loved this story. I have been following Candace’s books for years and like all others, this one really spoke to me. God allows u-turns and second chances. What is in our past doesn’t have to determine our future. God will see to that if we allow Him. Candace weaves the story like no other and her personality comes out in her characters. You will find yourself laughing out loud, and then crying along with the characters…yep tears in the dark lit by Kindle light. So… you just have to read until 5 a.m. to find out what happens…just like when I was a kid reading under the covers. AND…you know what? Washington State is mentioned. Tickled me pink!!!!

I would highly recommend this book! I would recommend that you go right now to her website or Amazon and pre-order it! Seriously! It will be hard to put down!!! Sloane, her main character, has a lot to say to us! Her website is: http://CandaceCalvert.com or Facebook http://facebook.com/candacecalvertbooks. Here is a link to the first chapter! http://candacecalvert.com/ChapterOneMaybeItsYou.pdf

Knock…knock…come on in! I have a story to tell! The other day I did a happy dance because I received a book in the mail that I was so wanting. It is all about making the Scandinavian waffle; not just a waffle, but all kinds of ways to serve the waffle. I was very excited! I tasted the Norwegian waffle while on my visit to Norway. In the wonderful hospitality of my cousins, it was served like a dessert waffle with a jam and whipped cream on top and each one was heart-shaped. They were very, very good and had a touch of cardamom flavor. What a treat! I immediately wanted the recipe. I have a couple other books and recipes, and now, I have this book. I have learned the history of waffles also. And the recipes!! That is really fun!However, there was a word in this book that really grabbed my heart. My soul immediately resonated with it. I have been familiar with its feeling, and always leaned this way in my daily life and living. But this word description put the finger on the pulse when I read it. It is described as the Norwegian word “Kos”. As with many languages, sometimes it takes many words to understand the meaning of one foreign word used, and this word is no exception. If we tried to translate it, it seems the word “cozy” would best work. Sort of…but not really. It is really described as more of a life style. It’s about the quality of life we live and making an atmosphere that totally makes you feel like, this is the life! This is what it’s about. But she talks about “Kos” not just being about the home, it’s also about getting together for coffee, or when you see someone you haven’t seen in a long time, or sharing a bonfire with snacks or hotdogs together with friends, neighbors and family. It is also about being out in nature on a walk or hike, or sitting on a deck and just enjoying what you see around you. Hearing the sounds, and breathing in life.

I remember sitting on the porch after arriving in Norway, at my cousin’s house, and we all just sat on the porch and took in the sights of the fjord, the sunset, and…coffee… with cake. And…conversation. We would also sit on the back porch in the mornings with our coffee and enjoy the view of the mountains and nature. I felt that same feeling when I went with other cousins, to see my grandfather’s church, and where his siblings and family attended, were confirmed, and lived their life. I walked the road where my grandfather walked and then went up the hill to where his house was. I traveled with other cousins to learn of my father’s mother and her life in Norway, and my great-uncle, who was a pastor, and gave his life to ministry in Norway, and later in the US. I walked inside of the house where my great-grandmother, grandmother and her sister lived. That was on my mom’s side. I could imagine for a while what their life was like and how hard their life was. I could also look out the window at the beautiful mountains across the valley. I stood there a moment trying to imagine them waking up to that view every day! What a view a view it was. Did they stand at the window and dream about a time when they would leave these mountains and come to the land of plenty? Did they dream about a way to make a better life for themselves and for their family by leaving Norway? Maybe they prayed for provision and food enough to get by? Maybe their prayers were answered by our presence there that day. Stories…do we know them, or are we too busy to gather around small tables by oil light to listen? (I will allow you an electrical light too, or, candles are welcomed). Can we slow down enough to hear the stories? Everyone has one.

I think “Kos” isn’t about the just looking and seeing, it is about the appreciating it all; having a heart response. It is about taking time to give your heart and life a chance to slow down; take it in. That is “Kos”. It is about living in the moment. Right now. It is like sitting by a window or out on the porch at night, lighting a candle and enjoying the evening with a cup of your favorite thing…for me it would be a mocha or tea. Finding complete satisfaction in the moment. Feeling like this is what life is about. Whether by yourself, or with others, it is about squeezing every bit of enjoyment out of each moment lived. For me, one of them just recently was laying on the floor with my grandson and just talking and giggling. Listening to his story. I can remember many days going to my grandpa and grandma’s house after school and sometimes just sitting there in a rocker and rocking back and forth, the Generator wall clock is sharing it’s “tick-tock, tick-tock”, and the quiet…we just enjoyed being together. I have memories of my grandfather taking the time to teach me how to play solitaire. I play a game on my phone before I go to bed each night in his honor. Time. We all have it. What are we doing with it?

I remember going on a hike up the mountain in Norway and as we approached this mountain cabin, there was a small group of friends that were outside and eating their lunch together. They invited on in to share the circle with them. We ate our snacks there and they offered us cookies and coffee. Here we sat, strangers to them, my son and I, and yet they invited us in like they had known us for a long time. We were invited into the cabin for a tour. My heart fell in love with this cabin on the mountain. It squeezed my heart a little to leave, but I left feeling the “Kos” that day for many reasons. Walking back down the mountain, it WAS hard to put into words. But I know the feeling because my heart recognizes it.

So today, I am writing this post to not only teach you a new word, but to encourage you to put some “Kos” in your life. Figure out what that means for you, and then add it into your life style. Bring the outside in. Take your inside out. You know that I love nothing more than to sit on a covered deck, even in the rain. I enjoy the sound of the rain, and watching the flowers stand up straighter after a rain, the lawn becomes greener, and the air is fresh. Our culture is getting too busy for “Kos”. It should not be so. Slow it on down! Put the breaks on. Hang a light in the window, take your shoes off and enjoy the steam from a hot cup of cocoa, coffee or tea. Breathe in the moment and then say thanks. Invite someone in to enjoy this time with you. Make “Kos” your lifestyle.

I thank my Norwegian relatives for reminding me once again what life is about and what is important. I think God wants us to live this way. It was never His plan to be running so fast that we run away from life instead of running to it. We are running so hard that we forget to look around us at nature and what God has given us. We can’t even hear Him because we are too busy moving on to the next thing. I came back home with a reinforced perspective about this area of my life! I am passionate about it! I implement it in my home as well. I now understand why. It was how I was brought up. But it still takes ME to implement it. When we allow it, our heart and soul will speak. When it does, we have no choice but to listen and follow if we want harmony in our lives.

I want “Kos” in every area of my life. What about you? See that picture to the left? This is a road trip we took and we stopped for coffee and cake along the roadside. What a way to travel! Now that is “Kos”! Getting the idea?

I know I have talked about his before, but this blog is about the journeys of my heart. So, I will once again share today’s heart journey with you.

You know, as we get older, there are people we begin to lose from our lives, and the older we get the more of them we lose. I don’t have too many in the generation above me left now. I have become the last generation, except for just a few. I just recently received a photo of my grandfather in his element, working as a contractor/builder. I loved seeing this for the first time! As I was putting my grandpa’s picture in the picture frame to hang in my bedroom, I realized that this is yet another reminder to me of another time. While enjoying the memory of the photo, I received a phone call about another cousin who passed away. There are have been many cousins who have left this earthly realm just recently. So much of my childhood memories were spent with our family and extended family. We did holidays together, potlucks, reunions, overnight stays on weekends, and camp outs at the beach or lake. We would ride bicycles in the summer time to meet up and play together. When one family needed something and the other had it, we shared. If one family was a bit short on groceries, they would be invited to dinner, or a package would appear on their door step. Many of us might remember hearing our parents or grandparents talk about the “old days.” I sometimes feel like I am now living the “old days”. I have also come to understand why they said the things they used to say. It enriches our lives when we understand more. Ask questions if they are still with you or ask people who may have known them, to share a story or memory or two. You can get to know them all over again!

Grandma and little feet sharing life.

This particular man, my cousin, was happy all the time. Always had a smile on his face, and would always find something to tease me about. He enjoyed making me blush. He was a ski instructor. I remember seeing him always wearing sweaters. I always thought that being a ski instructor was such a cool job to have. Kind of a status symbol to me since most men I knew as a child were blue-collar workers. He was a ski instructor! I mean, if you loved skiing, what better job could you have than to teach it, and be out doing what you love all the time! He also loved music and he could play a one and half-inch harmonica like it was a full size one. In later years, he carried it around his neck on a chain and would entertain anyone around, that wanted to listen to him, with a tune or two. Then he would ask, “How about that?”

My dad had three harmonicas. One of them was mini harmonica. He could also play that like it was his big harmonica. I was always amazed that such a sound could come from something so small! My older brother now keeps company with that little harmonica, and younger brother has his medium harmonica. Thinking these thoughts, reminds me that life is very short, and spending time with each other and sharing memories is so important. Time goes so fast! In the end, the memories we have and make, are what we have to share with OUR families. My cousin’s music and story will live on in the lives of his wife and family.

A harmonica is rather special instrument to me because my dad played. I have his harmonica and I take it out and play it as best I can. I wish I could truly play because it is something that reaches deep in my soul every time I take it out. I can remember times when dad played with this cousin, and other relatives, and oh what fun it was to listen and watch. You can see by the pictures that my dad taped and re-taped the box so that it would stay together to protect his harmonica. I treasure the box almost as much as I do the instrument because it just shows a little of my dad’s personality. I have shown this box to my grandson many times as a part of his treasure box of memories that we go through when he comes to see me. I try to add things all the time to that box so he has different stories to hear. Someday, that box will be his, and possibly the harmonica as well.

So…today I remind you to consider choosing a legacy for yourself that can be told in years to come by your family. Make memories today that will last a life time. Don’t let the music stop because loved ones are gone. Keep their song of life going. I think when we do, THAT is when we truly understand them and the life they lived. I think I know more of the heart of my parents and family now then I ever did! If this hasn’t been your experience to have a family unit like this, then my wish for you is that you will decide today to be a generation changer. You can always begin anew to set a legacy for yourself and your future. I pray you do.

This week I am celebrating all week! Why? Because this is a special week in my life…its Valentine’s Day week! It has special meaning to me. People think more about love this week than any other week so it is said, but it also seems to bring other emotions to some. I would say it is less about couples, and more about love. Showing and demonstrating to the people around you, family, and friends just how special they are to you. My man and I were to become husband and wife on that special day many years ago, but circumstances didn’t cooperate with us. So we were married in May instead. However, we have chosen to celebrate our anniversary in February also! We do something special every year at this time. But don’t let the “couple thing” be a stumbling block to how to share your love that day. Here are a few things to make it fun:

Note in your child’s/parents lunch

Pay it forward in a Starbucks line

Let someone go before you in a line in the store or gas line

Sneak a note in to a co-worker to let them know you care

Note on the windshield of a special person

A phone call, text, card, or letter to let someone know you care; personal touch is best if possible

Cookies to a neighbor

Invite someone you love out for coffee and tell them how much they mean to you

Write a letter or card to someone who has had a great impact in your life and tell them what it has meant

A special movie night in your home or meet up with a friend(s)

A treasure hunt in your house or office for messages of love

Cook a special dinner and invite a friend

Write down 14 ways that you have seen God’s love in your life in the first 14 days of February

Do something special for your pastor and family to let them know you appreciate them

Go visit a shut-in

Make a love collage of how you have been shown love lately

Starbucks card

Go visit your favorite place

Take yourself out to dinner

Photo by Cameralab

The most important thing is to have fun. Don’t let the day go by without taking the time to do an act of love. I get to share some love with a wonderful group of women Wednesday morning and following that, my hubby and I are making a road trip and enjoying a few days away. I will be using my Valentine’s gift from him; my Fujii XT1 camera! We will sport our LOVE Tumbers in the car with us. We will enjoy a few snacks on the road. Picture taking all the way. My car should have a sign on it that say, “This car stops for all photo opportunities!” We will check out a little church I told you about in the last post, and stop where ever we want to stop, and enjoy every moment. But we are making a week out of celebrating it with all we do. We are living in expectation of this Wednesday afternoon. There is something to be said for expectation. We should live our lives that way every day because God has something in mind for each day He grants us. I don’t want to miss out on what it is! I want to jump up and down in the morning, waving my arms, saying, “Here I am Lord! Where are we going today?” Can you see that visual picture? Joy in the journey! He cares about big and small things as I have shared before and here’s another good example of it today:

We got back home from the accountant’s office and we had to check out something regarding the Lime Squeeze and get the information back to him. Low and behold, we find in that process that we have been driving the Lime Squeeze with expired tabs since September!!!! I don’t have any notice of it anywhere in the files. Now I have been around many state patrols and policemen/women and yet I have not been stopped. I say that, not in trying to be a smarty pants, but because I believe that God has blinded the eyes of many in order to keep me from having to pay a ticket. I didn’t plan it that way, but God sure took care of me! Needless to say, first thing in the morning, I have to go get that done. But this is just another example to me of how God cares for the little things in life! He watches over us.

Be crazy celebrating in gratitude this week! Look over the list above, add some of your own, and commit to do something different this year when that special day comes on Saturday. You know, with technology being what it is, you can even send a mocha or coffee via the internet and they have it right away to enjoy! Whatever your choice, I want to wish you a wonderful Valentine’s Day FULL of love, and I hope you make it a great day of sharing your love in action with others.

This new year has been monumental for me! I have spent many years praying for certain things to come to fruition and was placed in “waiting mode”. Been there? Nothing seems to be going on and you don’t see any answers? Did you give up? Think God wasn’t listening? Lose your joy? Get all negative? You can’t see where it’s going so you aren’t even going to take the next step?

I have seen and read a lot of negative things around me lately. Lest we forget how blessed we really are, I want to share some personal thoughts with you. Did you know that sometimes we have to wait for the answers for MANY different reasons? I have found that God sometimes is teaching me things that I need to know during those times when I think He isn’t doing anything. BUT…in reality, He IS doing something! It all depends on whether I am willing to be obedient to what He says to me during these times. I may gripe, complain, get a short fuse, even get discouraged about my whole life, but, all the while, God is working on the solutions. I can’t seem them. Shoot! I don’t even know they EXIST yet! BUT GOD…is faithful. He never let’s go of my hand. The only time our lives get in this situation is when we have pulled our hand away. Possibly, we have tried making things happen on our own rather than waiting. Oops…never a good thing. But then, when we put our hand in His, all of a sudden, things become a bit clearer. We start to see things through His lens and view-point. We see His hand at work and we can begin to see the wheels turning toward what God has in mind for us. In my case, I am much more willing to step out with Him.

These last several months, I have seen God…

Bring us to a point of being debt free. We have been praying and working on that for about 8 years. Something always seemed to happen that kept us in debt. But we began diligently seeking God about this area of our lives, and asked Him to help us, AND we got some Holy Spirit gumption and determination!

Bought a house that had lots of work to do on it. He has helped us accomplish that the work.

We sold a house that took many months to sell which meant we were making double payments. But after many offers falling through, He brought the EXACT right couple.

We made additions to our home, that under normal circumstances, would seem impossible. Yet, God did it.

Money unexpectedly coming to us to pay debt down. Also, through scrimping to make extra payments, somehow the money spread around to all expenses.

We were faithful in our giving.

We even enjoyed some “get away” times together.

God just did it! The important part of this whole process was, OUR involvement with Him. We prayed and listened. We were obedient to say no to ourselves, in order to say YES to God. So, He was faithful to honor our needs and some of our wants. We can’t ask Him to be debt free and not be willing to do our part to get there. THAT was our process. We listened. We learned. We followed.

Next BIG point? We thanked Him ahead for what He would do. We thanked Him for

The Perfect Reflection

being debt free, we thanked Him for the appliances, we thanked Him for the items we needed to save on daily living expenses, and we thanked Him for the savings that we had. We thanked Him for how He made the money stretch. You know what? He did it over and over again! We might find just the right thing for our home (the mirror in the picture) and He blessed us with a way to make that happen.

Now before you think it is all about “things”, He will do those exact same things in ANY area of our lives. AND, He cares about the smallest desires of our hearts. I love that about the Lord! In this process, I have learned to love the daily, simple things that come my way and never take them for granted. I have a Gratitude Jar that I am keeping this year and every time anything good comes my way, I am putting a heart in my jar with the written word of my blessing, and at the end of the year on New Year’s Eve, we will take that jar out and read what God has done. Anyone coming into my home may add to that jar. Last week, my grandson asked if he could add another heart to the jar! Now THAT does a grandma’s heart good!

So don’t let the devil get you all tied up in knots over time lines. Know that God is working the night shift, and He KNOWS what you need. But you need to walk in faith “in the mean time” and trust His timing too. Leave your cares in His hands because He cares about you. ALL about you! Don’t put your mind to the negative. Find the good in your day. You are alive here on this planet today to enjoy your friends and family and to be a light to others. Make it count! Count your blessings one by one so you SEE what the Lord has done! Remember that song from when you were younger? It is true. It will bring joy to your heart. I promise, and God promises that very thing to us in His Word. “This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” THAT is the best way to fight the good fight. Be a warrior and start wielding the sword of the Spirit!! Don’t let the evil one whisper in your ear anymore. Bring out your Sword!

Bottom line? I have walked this journey with the above ways for most of my life. I can tell you it works. Do I get discouraged? Sure I do! But not for long, because my experience with God tells me that He knows. He cares. He is always working. What He has done before, He will do again!

Give Him your cares, SO THAT, He can show Himself faithful. Don’t give in, give it up to Him! Walking the journey with you…